Loading plate for towel dispensers



J. L. ZIZZI LOADING PLATE FOR TOWEL DISPENSERS July 12, 1960 2Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 20, 1954 I] m. L. w s w w m m m July 12, 1960V J. L. ZlZZl 2,944,860

LOADING PLATE FOR TOWEL DISPENSERS Filed July 20, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 2Fig.3

1 III/VIII 400 Joseph L. 2722/ INVENTOR.

Unite rates atentf.

I LOADING PLATE FOR TOWEL DISPENSERS Joseph L. Zizzi, Utica, N.Y.,assignor to Joseph Darman,

Utica, N.Y.

Filed July 20, 1954, Ser. No. 444,423

Claims. (Cl. 312-38) This invention relates generally to continuous rolltowel dispensers and has for its primary object the provision of animproved construction embodying a smoothing plate mechanism andoperating means therefor elfective to automatically properly'positionthe smoothing towe sr 1 Still another object oithis invention isztoprovide an improved smoothing assembly for towel dispensers which2,944,860v Patented July 12, 1960 ice 2 bell crank that the force of thespring is over-center of the bell crank pivot axis one way or the otherin the two corresponding positions.

, A further object of this invention is proved smoothing plateoperating-mechanism in conformity with the foregoing objects wherein thelinkage also includes a link member pivotally connected to one end ofthe bell crank and disposed at its opposite end in the path of movementof an abutment member carried by an abrasive roll, when the smoothingplate is in the inoperative position, such that actuation of theabrasive roll and consequent engagement of the abutment memwhich:

ber against the one end of the link will reverse the overcenterrelationship of the spring with respect to the bell crank such that thespring may continue the motion of 'lh6 bell crank and consequently thehinged smoothing plate to the position wherein the hinged smoothingplate is in close proximity to the fixed smoothing plate.

These together with other objects and advantages which will becomesubsequently apparent reside in the details of construction andoperation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, referencebeing bad to the accompanying drawings forming a parthereof, whereinlikenumerals refer to like parts throughout, and in Figure l is a.perspective view of. theimp'roved dispensing unit;

ineludes a fixed smoothing plate and a hinged smoothing plateCQOPCTHgblG therewithto effectively smooth soiled toweling as the samepasses therebetween for disposition 9.. adaliemp roll.

Another object of this invention resides in the provision t an i nprevedsmoothing mechanism in conformity with ithe, foregoing object whereinthe fixed smoothing plate is with-an-ofiset portion providing a groovewithin which the free edge of the hinged smoothing plate is regeiyed'foreffectively tensioning a' substantially large area toweling to enhancethe smoothing operation pertotmd. there n- A still further object ofthis invention is to provide an iv/herein a hinged smoothing plate ismovable toward and "away from; fixed Smoothing plate so as to permit thepassage oil a persons hand between the smoothing plates when thedispensing mechanism is being loaded with a fresh snpplynf towelingand,wherein linkage means joins, the abrasive rolls forming a portion of thedispensing unit with the hinged, smoothing plate such that a toweldispensing operation snbsequentto loading; of'the unit "willautomatically returnthe hinged smoothing plate to its, proper andoperative position in close. proximity to the; ,ffixed-smoothins pl eAno her obie oft-thi movable smoothing plate whereinthe movablesmoothing plate is normally pring, urg d in ga e Withthe fixed, plateand; wherein the spring, mechanism is. of Qs gchnatujre as to eiiect aneven pressure throughout. the

area of contact, between thefixed and, movable. plates to insp re aneven smoothing action across the area of the ing on an associatedtake-up Spindle...

St l; d lQ llfi QbJ'Q t oft thi'sjinventiw is to. provide an improvedsmoothing mechanism in, conformity with/the foregoing'object wherein thelinkage means includes a ell: Grants membe movable with. the: hingedsmoothin plate, between its operative and. loading, position and whereina spring mechanism is. nqvelly associated: with l invention is to,utilize a smooth-j ing mechanism having a fixed smoothing. plate and,.a

Figure 2 is an exploded perspective view showing the fixed andhinged'smoothing plates; 1

Figure 3 is a vertica1 section taken through the dispensi'ng. cabinetshowing, the dispensing unit operatively positioned therein and furthershowing the smoothing plateactuating. mechanism;

Figure 4 is an enlarged sectional view showing. the operativerelationship between the fixed and hinged smoothing plates;r

Figure 5. is a perspective view of a portion of the disfimnmvedsnoothing mechanism for towel dispensers l'arged scale;

smoothing plates and the actuating mechanism on an en- Figure" 6 is anenlarged vertical section taken sub- .st'antially along the plane ofsection line 6 -6 in Figure I 3'; and

Figure 7 is an enlarged sectional view showing details of the smoothingplates. 7

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, and

i more specifically at this time to Figure 1 thereof, wherein thedispensing, unit isshown, the unit will be seen to con- 7 of a2 pai'r ofside plate members 10 and 12' which rotatably carry therebetween a pairof abrasive roll ".rnernbers I4 and 16. The side plates 10 and 12 are:frigidly interconnected at three spaced points by means of the upperrear mounting bar member 18 whose opposite threadiedenri. 20' projectsthrough apertures in the side wall and receives nut member 22 thereon,by' means of-a ffixed loading plate member 24 at the rear ofthe assemblytoweling and assure a proper take-up action of, the toweland below the;mounting bar 13 and at the forward portiorr thereof means of atransverse support bar memberto whichthe 'arcuate protectorplate 26 isrigidly secured. The support rod. or bar, like the mountingbar I8, isprovided with opposite threaded ends 2 8 which a project throughsuitable apertures in the side walls 10 and I2 and which are providedthereon with nut memhers 34% ton efi'eetively'completing their fasteningthereto.

Asseen most clearly in Figures 2 and 4,- the rigidifying connectionefieeted by the fixed= smoothing plate 24 is due ten the; provision ofthe" laterally bent cars 32 and 341disposed: at opposite: ends: thereof,both of: whicln'are" aperhired and are adapted to: engage against; thesur- 7Q faces oftheside plates Ill andv1 2 and receive: fasteningelements, 36 therethroughto: securely interconnect the side walls 10 and12.

to provide anim-,

To prevent movement of the fixed plate 24 about the fasteners 36 as apivot, the upperor rearwardly inclined portion 38 thereof is provided atits opposite ends with the laterally projecting hook members 40 and 42which are adapted'to engage about stud member-s44 which 'exte'nd'throughand are fixed tothe side walls 10 and- 12.

Thus, it will be seen that the 'fixed mounting plate, the 'rnounting rodor bar and the support rod or bar effectively and rigidly interconnectthe side plate members 10 and 12 such that'these members are properlyrelated one to the other to permit proper and effective mounting of theroll members 14 and 16. I As seen'most clearly in Figure 3, thedispensing unit shown'in Figure 1 is mounted within a cabinet assemblyindicated generally by' the'reference character'46 and it is to be notedthat the cabinet in'cooper'ation with fthe dispensing unit presents acontinuous loop of toweljing such as is well known in the art, the'cleantowel end of'the continuous loop being indicated by the referencecharacter 48 and the soiled endof the continuous loop being indicated bythe reference character 50. That is, as is conventional, thecleanportion of the toweling issues from adjacent the-front of thecabinet, the front *door thereof being indicated generally by thereference 'character 52, and the soiled portion of the continuous loopprojects upwardly into the bottom of the cabinet adjacent therear'portion'thereof as will be readily apparent fromFigure' 3.

. Although the details of the dispensing assembly per se "forms'no partof this invention, it is necessary tolrealiz e that the two roll members14 and 16 are operatively interconnected by the provision of sprocketmembers54 and 56 on one free end of their journal shaft with these:sprockets being drivingly associated by the provision of a flex-iblechain member 58 therearound as will be seen most clearly in Figure 1.Thus, as the clean toweling portion 48 is pulled from the cabinet by auser, the roll lmember 16 will be rotated in a well known manner toimpart a similar rotative motion tothe roll 14 such that the soiledtoweling will be rolled upon the spindle I member 60 as the roll 14 isrotated. It will be further jrealized that the dispensing mechanism alsoincludes a cam member 62 mounted on the journal shaft 64 for the roll 16at the end opposite from the sprocket 56 and :that this. cam member 62includes a rigid abutment member 65 integral therewith and adapted to berotated as the roll 16 is rotated. Although the cam member 62 is of nomoment insofar as the subject matter claimed herein is concerned, theabutment member 65 forms an important part of this invention. Referringnow more particularly to Figures 1, 2 and 4, it will be seen that amovable smoothing plate indicated generally by the referencecharacter'66 is hingedly mounted between the side wall members 10 and 12adjacent the lower rear corner portion thereof and in this ,respect itwill be noted that the movable smoothing plate 66 embodies a main bodyportion 68 provided'at opposite lower corners thereof with the hingeroll mem- 1 bers 70 and 72 which rotatably receive the inner end ofbinge pin members 74 which are threadedly engaged through the side walls10 and 12 for effecting the pivotal connection between the smoothingplate 66 and the side walls.

The smoothing plate 66 will further be seen to consist of a free edgeportion 76 angulated with respect to the main body portion 68 thereofand in this respect it is to be noted that the angulation between theportion 76 and the portion 68 is such as to permit the portion 76 grooveor trough therebetween into which the reversely bent free edge portion82 of the movable plate is projected when in the operative position. Toprevent actual engagement of the edge 82 against the portion of thefixed plate, spacer tabs 84 are provided on the fixed plate portion 80to prevent positive engagement of the edge 82 therewith. The efiect ofthis construction is to slightly space the free edge of the movablesmoothing plate from the forwardly inclined portion 80 of the fixedsmoothing plate and to obviate excessive frictional contact of thesmoothing plate with the soiled toweling portion 50 as the same passesupwardly between the smooth ing plate members onto the take-up spindle60.

The above described structural configuration of the fixed smoothingplate and the cooperative relationship of the hinged plate therewitheffects an improved smoothing action on the toweling being fed onto thetake-up roll 60 by virtue of the fact that the smoothing action onthe-soiled toweling not only takes place in the region immediatelybetween the free edge 82 and the portion 80 but also throughout theentire extent of the 'rearwardly 'inclined portion 38 of the fixed platemember and par large area of the toweling.

*thesoiled toweling and the consequent line smoothing action thereonaudit will be readily apparent that-an improved smoothing action takesplace as a result thereof since the smoothing action occurs over asubstantially I Disposed adjacent the rearedge and on the outer side 0fthe wall member 12 is a bell crank member 88 provided with a pivot pinmember 90' projecting through an intermediate portion thereof andthrough the side wall 12 such that the bellcrank is pivotally attachedto the 7 side wall sons to be movable between the full and dotted linepositions shown in Figure 3. The lower end of the bell crank is providedwith a relatively narrow projecting portion 92 which" terminates in alaterally bent :finger portion 94 which projects through an elongatedarcuate'slot 96 in the side wall 12 to be disposed behind offset portion102 against which the the movable smoothing plate 66 in the manner shownmost clearly in Figure 5. The portion 68 of the plate 66 is notched asat 98 in the region of the free end of the finger 94 and on the. forwardsurface thereof is rigidly attached a tab member 100 having an angularlyfinger 94 engages. The purpose of the tab 100 is to present asubstantially vertical space or surface engaged by the finger 94 so thatthe finger 94, being spring urged into engagement with the tab 100 aswill be presently apparent, will exert the most effective force-to theplate 66 for urging the same into smoothing contactwith the fixed plateassembly 24.

Pivotally secured as by pins 104 to the upper end of the bell crank 88is. a substantially horizontally disposed link member 106 whose oppositefree end terminates in a laterally projecting ear 108] I horizontallyelongated slot 110 which extends through a in the side wall 12. The ear108 is wider than the remaining portion of the link and the'slot 110such that the portion 112 thereof is disposed closely adjacent the innersurface of the side wall 12to impart a'guiding action to this end of thelink.

The end of the link 106 which is pivotally attached to the bell crank 88has an enlarged cam portion 114 which extends beyond the correspondingend of the bell crank 88 and against which the free end of a resilientspring get is rigidly attached to the finger member 116 is adapted toengage. The spring finlaterally projecting leg 118 of an .L-shapedbracket member 120 whose other leg is rigidly aflixed to the outersurface of the side wall 12 as by fasteners 122, the connection betweenthe spring finger 116 and the bracket leg 118 able fastening means suchas being effected by any suitthe member 124 as illustrated n'Figure 3.Thespring finger ll6 is so disposed re pec to the an; por io .1 4 of nk6 a d th hell cra k 8 that when he be l etsnls is sp ed n ei h r one oits. op si e imits of PQS Q J. a i di ated by the. t ll and dot d l nesin Fi e 3 the sh ne fin will exert a te se on e ell c an 86 t rou h t io s n 94 to mainta n the h l pr nk in the po iti n to which i h s beenmoved;

pu pose. nd operation o the i k and. e crank system is-such a to returnt e. rem ab e smoo n pla .66 to. its operative position. whe eve th moab e smoothing p ate is disposed in. its inope ative pos t on suchasthat in do ted lin s in Fig re 3. to permit l adi of the. dis ensingassembl-x- Tha is, it will be. clear tha uponservieing of th cabinet tointroduce a fresh supp y of towel'mg therein, an. operator passes hishand upwardly through the rearward bottom open ng of the cabinet toswing the plate 66 away from the fixed plate 24 to permit the freshsupply of toweling to. be wound once or twice around the .takeup. spool60. It is not then necessary for the. operator to, then swing thesmoothing plate .66. back into. its operative position inasmuch as.pulling upon the clean towel loop. portion 48. which hangs from thecabinet will rotate the roll members 14 and 16 I and will consequentlyrotate the abutment member 65.

Since the hell crank and 88 and 10.6, respectively, are disposed in thefull line position shown in Figure 3, the car 108 be disposed in thepath of movement of the nt member .6; and w l he st u thereby to ntgoyethe 106 a suflicient distance to. reverse the over- ,c e nter.relationship of the spring 116 against the cam porrign 1,14 f the link106 whe eby the resiliency o f the spring member will continue pivotingthe bell crank in a corresponding direction until the finger 94 hasreturned the smoothing plate 66 to its operative position.

Thus, it will be readily apparent that it will be impossible for themovable smoothing plate 66 to be left in its inoperative position.

A further improvement which is effected in the loading or smoothingplate mechanism resides in the mechanism mounted on wall which equalizesthe pressure against the movable smoothing plate 66. This mechanismtakes the form of an auxiliary bell crank 88' pivotally mounted on theside wall 10 by means of the pivot pin 90 and which is provided with arelatively narrow lower end projection 92 similar to the previouslymentioned bell crank 88. Similar also to bell crank 88, the auxiliarybell crank has its lower extremity provided with a laterally bent fingerportion 94' projecting through an arcuate slot 96 in side wall 10, thisfinger portion being adapted, in cooperation with a spring mechanismlater described, to urge the hinged smoothing plate 66 toward and intoengagement with the fixed plate 24.

To this end, it is to be noted that both ends of the plate 66 arenotched as previously noted with respect to notch 98 and the fingerportion 94' of the auxiliary bell crank projects into that notchadjacent the side wall 10 and into engagement with the tab member 100',or more specifically, into contact with the angularly ofiset portion 102of this tab. Tab 100', like the previously described tab 100, issecurely attached to the plate 66.

The spring mechanism which is associated with the auxiliary bell crank88' is similar to the one associated with bell crank 88 in that itemploys an L-shaped bracket member 120' secured to side wall 10 byfasteners 122' upon which the spring finger 116' is mounted. The freeend of the spring finger bears against the upper end of the auxiliarybell crank and maintains the same to one or the other side of centercorresponding to the open and closed positions of the loading or movablesmoothing plate. In the same way that the spring finger 116 acts uponthe enlarged end 114 of link 106 to urge bell crank 88 into either oneof its two positions, the spring finger 116' acts directly upon theupper end of auxiliary bell crank 88'. Since the dimensions of the twobell cranks 88 and 88' are similar, substantially the same leverage isex rted upon he smoothing plate 66 by se two el pranks such that thetoweling is frictionally engaged there by with a uniform force all alongthe line of Contact with the beaded edge 82 of the loading plate.

To reverse the over center relationship of the auxiliary bell crank .88as the loading plate is moved from its open position toward the closedposition, means is provided to impart the necessary movement to theauxiliary bell crank. This means takes the form of a retaining brackethaving one portion 126 secured to the loading plate and an opposite endportion 128 overlying the finger 24' in spaced relation to tab Thus, asthe loading plate is moved, by the mechanism previously described,toward the closed position, the bracket portion 128 engages finger 94and imparts a corresponding movement to auxiliary bell crank 88.

It is extremely important that the auxiliary bell crank be utilized inconjunction with the primary or main bell crank inasmuch as theuniformity in pressure exerted upon the soiled toweling as attainedthereby assures that the soiled toweling will be evenly rolled upon thetake- .up spindle 60. Any unevenness in tension against the towelingwill cause the toweling to shift laterally toward the area 02 lessertension and wind unevenly upon the take- .19 s ind From the foregoing,the construction and operation of the de s wi e re d y n er too a d f thPla i n be i ved o be e e ry- Ho ev r. sinc num ous med fiea ien a d anes'w e dilv' eeu ts thos sk lled v t a t t n desired to i it e inten iono he exact construc i n sho n a d cr be at dase r litt yl al 'su ta lemodi ic tio s a d equ lent may be resorted to, falling within the scopeor the appended claims.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. In a towel dispensing assembly, a pair of spaced, rig-idlyinterconnected side wall members, a fixed smoothing plate rigidlysecured between said side Wall members, a movable smoothing platehingedly secured between said side walls, the hinge point of saidmovable plate being spaced from the fixed plate such that the movableplate is swingable between one position away from the fixed plate topermit the passage of toweling therebetween during loading operation ofthe assembly and a second position wherein a free edge portion holds aportion of toweling against the fixed plate, a bell crank pivotallysecured intermediate its ends to one of said side walls and having oneend abutting said movable plate, a spring member engaging the oppositeend of said bell crank urging said crank between limits of pivotalmovement on said one side wall, a pair of abrasive rolls journalledbetween said side walls, an abutment member rigidly secured to one ofsaid rolls for rotation there with, and link means engaged by saidabutment member and connected to said bell crank urging the latter onits pivot to a position lover-center with relation to said spring, saidspring being operable to move the bell crank into engagement with themovable smoothing plate against the fixed plate.

2. In a towel dispensing assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein anauxiliary bell crank is pivoted intermediate its ends to the other ofsaid side walls and having one of its ends abutting said movable plate,and a second spring member engaging the opposite end of said auxiliary:bell crank between limits of pivotal movement of said other side wall,the spring members cooperating to eifect an even pressure along thelength of the movable plate relative to the fixed plate.

3. In a towel dispensing assembly, .a pair of spaced, rigidlyinterconnected side Walls, an abrasive roll journalled between said sidewalls and having an abutment member rigid therewith adjacent one of theside walls, said one side wall having an opening adjacent said roll, abell crank pivoted intermediate its ends to said one side wall, a linkpivotally connected .to one end of said bell crank and extendingtherefrom toward. said side wall opening and terminating in a laterallyprojecting ear extending through the opening, said bell crank beingswingable to move said ear into and out of the path of movevrnent ofsaid abutment member, a resilient spring element fixed to said one sidewall and engaging the link adjacent li-ts pivotal connect-ion with thecrank such that the crank is normally urged into one of limits ofswinging movement, said one side having an elongated slot thereinadjacent the other end of said bell crank, a laterally projecting fingeron said other end of the bell crank through which said finger projects,a smoothing plate hingedly secured between said side walls and engagedby said finger such that said link when in the path of movement of theabutment member will be urged by the same to move the bell crank intoover-center relation with said spring whereby the spring willcontinuethe motion of said bell crank and urge the smoothing plate to operatingposition.

4. In a towel dispensing assembly as set forth in claim 2 wherein anauxiliary bell crank is pivoted intermediate 'i-ts' ends to the other ofsaid side walls and having one 'of its ends abutting said movable plate,and a second spring member engaging the opposite end of said auxiliarybell crank between limits of pivotal movement of said other side wall,the spring members cooperating to .efiect an even pressure along thelength of the movable gplate relative to thefixed plate;

5 In' a towel dispensing assembly, a pair of spaced,

,movable, plate is swingable between one position away from the fixedplate to permit the passage of toweling therebetween during loadingoperation f the assembly and a position wherein its free edge holds aportion of toweling against the fixedplate, a bell crank pivotallysecured intermediate its ends to one of said side walls and having oneof its ends abutting said movable plate, a spring member engaging theopposite end of said bell crank urging said bell crank between-limits ofpivotal movement on said one side wall, a pair of abrasive rollsjournalled between said side walls, an abutment member rigidly securedto one of said rolls for rotation therewith, and link means engaged bysaid abutment member and connected to said bell crank for urging thelatter to a position over-center with relation to said spring, wherebythe spring will move the bell crank to engage the movable smoothingplate against the fixed plate, an auxiliary bell crank pivotedintermediate its ends to the other of said side walls and having one ofits ends abutting said movable plate, and a second spring memberengaging the opposite end of said auxiliary bell crank urging saidauxiliary bell crank between limits of pivotal movement on said otherside wall, thefirst mentioned spring member and the second spring membercooperating' to eifeet an even pressure along the edge of the movablesmoothing plate againstthe fixed plate.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 11,756,757 Olson l.---- Apr. 29, 1930 2,202,930 Steiner 'June 4, 19402,255,609 Birr et al. Sept. 9, 1941

